Safely operating your portable generator

Always make sure that the generator is grounded and used in a dry area.
Always make sure that the generator is grounded and used in a dry area.

In the case of an ­emergency, a generator can be invaluable. When you have lost power, it can ­provide the electricity you need to keep your home warm and power your ­appliances. However, if not used ­properly, it may ­present serious ­hazards, ­including electric shocks, ­carbon ­monoxide ­poisoning, and fire. Safe Electricity ­provides tips to help use a portable generator safely.

A portable generator is usually gas powered and movable. Before ­putting it to use, read and ­follow all ­manufacturer instructions. Also, check the cords for damage and ensure that the device is able to handle the ­wattage or ­amperage of the appliances that you plan to use. Your generator should have more output than the wattage of the electronics you will plug into it. This way, the generator will be able to create the extra electricity it takes for the initial power surge. Make sure there is ­nothing plugged into the ­generator when turning it on.

Perform regular maintenance on your generator. It is recommended that a generator be operated once a month for 10 minutes to ensure it is running properly.

Always make sure that the ­generator is grounded and used in a dry area. Use it only when necessary during moist conditions. Protect it by operating it under an open, canopy-like structure and on a dry surface where water cannot form puddles or drain under it.

Matt Eisenmenger, Safe Electricity Advisory Board member, adds, “Be sure never to connect your portable generator to the structure directly. This can result in potentially deadly backfeed.”

Backfeed is a situation in which electricity gets fed back through the electrical system and meter into the power lines creating a hazard to line workers and others who may be near a downed line.

Remember to shut down your ­generator and give it time to cool before refueling. Always store your fuel away from the generator in an approved, non-glass safety container with a charged fire extinguisher nearby. Never operate your generator near flame-producing devices, and be sure not to smoke nearby.

In January 2016, Fox 6 WBRC reported the deaths of two people who were killed after their portable generator was not given enough ventilation during a power ­outage in Alabama. The generator was ­running inside the home, ­separate from the room that was being ­occupied; ­however, the ­carbon ­monoxide fumes proved fatal. Carbon ­monoxide is an ­odorless, deadly gas.

More than two-thirds of generator accidents are a result of lack of ventilation. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 2004 and 2013, 657 fatalities resulted from ­carbon monoxide ­poisoning ­associated with ­generators. Almost half of those ­fatalities occurred during the ­coldest months of the year, between November and February.

To combat these risks, never use a portable generator indoors, and remember that opening a window or door or

Molly Hall is Director of Safe Electricity. E-mail molly-hall@SafeElectricity.org. Safe Electricity is a public awareness program of the Energy Education Council. www.EnergyEdCouncil.org
Molly Hall is Director of Safe Electricity. E-mail molly-hall@SafeElectricity.org. Safe Electricity is a public awareness program of the Energy Education Council. www.EnergyEdCouncil.org

turning on a fan will not ­produce enough fresh air to reduce the danger of carbon monoxide ­emissions. Never run the generator near windows or doors that can draw the carbon monoxide back indoors. It is a good idea to clear at least three to four feet on all sides of the generator to allow for ventilation.

Install a battery-operated ­carbon monoxide detector and test it often, but also know and be on the lookout for the signs of carbon ­monoxide inhalation. Symptoms include ­dizziness, nausea, headaches, and ­lethargy. If you suspect that you or someone you are with is showing these symptoms, get some fresh air and seek medical attention.

For more information on elec­trical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.